Standby external rate control and implanted standby heart pacer

Claim 2

A rate control for remote control of the pacing pulse rate of a heart pacer that cooperates with the remote control, which pacer is characterized by having an intrinsic pulse period and by radiating a signal from it each time a natural heart stimulus occurs or an artificially generated heart stimulus caused by it occurs and by having its pulse period controlled by control signals which are radiated into it from the remote rate control, said remote rate control comprising: a. a pulse generator for producing control pulse signals with a predetermined period between them which is different than the intrinsic pacing pulse period of said pacer, b. a first pulse timing means for controlling the pulse period of the control pulse generator, c. means for transmitting to said pacer signals corresponding with said control pulse signals, d. means for detecting in said remote rate control signals that are received from said pacer which detected signals correspond with occurrence of either a natural or an artificial heart stimulus signal, and e. means for resetting the pulse timing means of the remote rate control to begin a predetermined time period in response to occurrence of a detected signal from said cooperating pacer corresponding with either a natural heart signal or an artificially generated stimulus signal, said timing means then causing said control pulse generator to produce a control pulse if neither of said signals is detected before the end of said reset time interval.

Claim 3

A rate control for remote control of the pacing pulse rate of a heart pacer that cooperates with the remote control, which pacer is characterized by having an intrinsic pulse period and by radiating a signal from it each time a natural heart stimulus occurs or an artificially generated heart stimulus caused by it occurs and by having its pulse period controlled by control signals which are radiated into it from the remote rate control, said remote rate control comprising: a. a pulse generator for producing control pulse signals with a predetermined period between them which is different than the intrinsic pacing pulse period of said pacer, b. a first pulse timing means for controlling the pulse period of the control pulse generator, c. means for transmitting to said pacer signals corresponding with said control pulse signals, d. means for detecting in said remote rate control signals that are received from said pacer which detected signals correspond with occurrence of either a natural or an artificial heart stimulus signal, and e. means for resetting the pulse timing means of the remote rate control to begin a predetermined time period in response to occurrence of a detected signal from said cooperating pacer corresponding with either a natural heart signal or an artificially generated stimulus signal, said timing means then causing said control pulse generator to produce a control pulse if neither of said signals is detected before the end of said reset time interval.

Claim 4

A rate control for remote control of the pacing pulse rate of a heart pacer that cooperates with the remote control, which pacer is characterized by having an intrinsic pulse period and by radiating a signal from it each time a natural heart stimulus occurs or an artificially generated heart stimulus caused by it occurs and by having its pulse period controlled by control signals which are radiated into it from the remote rate control, said remote rate control comprising: a. a pulse generator for producing control pulse signals with a predetermined period between them which is different than the intrinsic pacing pulse period of said pacer, b. a first pulse timing means for controlling the pulse period of the control pulse generator, c. means for transmitting to said pacer signals corresponding with said control pulse signals, d. means for detecting in said remote rate control signals that are received from said pacer which detected signals correspond with occurrence of either a natural or an artificial heart stimulus signal, and e. means for resetting the pulse timing means of the remote rate control to begin a predetermined time period in response to occurrence of a detected signal from said cooperating pacer corresponding with either a natural heart signal or an artificially generated stimulus signal, said timing means then causing said control pulse generator to produce a control pulse if neither of said signals is detected before the end of said reset time interval.

Claim 5

The invention set forth in claim 1 including: a. hysteresis means for resetting said pulse timing means to produce a timing period which is different than said predetermined period in response to occurrence of a detected signal from said pacer corresponding with said either natural or artificial heart stimulus signals, said control pulse generator being controlled by said timing means to produce a control signal in correspondence with expiration of said different timing period to cause said cooperating pacer to artificially stimulate the heart, said timing means then operating to produce control signals to cause said pacer to artificially stimulate the heart in correspondence with said predetermined period until another signal from said pacer is detected.

Claim 6

A rate control for remote control of the pacing pulse rate of a first standby heart pacer that cooperates with the remote control, which pacer is characterized by having an intrinsic pulse period and by radiating a signal each time a natural heart stimulus occurs or an artificially stimulated heartbeat caused by it occurs and by having its pulse rate dominated to correspond with the rate at which control signals are radiated into it, said remote rate control comprising: a. a second standby pacer which is adapted to remotely control said first standby pacer which is implantable in the body, b. said second standby pacer having output terminals and a pulse generator for selectively supplying control pulses to the output terminals at a selected rate which is different than the intrinsic pulse rate of said first implantable standby pacer, said second pacer including timing means controlling its pulse generator to produce pulses at said selected rate and including means for inhibiting production of a pulse in response to occurrence of a signal across said output terminals corresponding with a signal from said first heart pacer, c. means connected with said output terminals of said second standby pacer for receiving pulse signals which correspond with signals that are transmitted through body tissue from said first implantable standby pacer and correspond with occurrence of a natural or stimulated heartbeat, d. means for delivering signals corresponding with said received signals to said second standby pacer output terminals to thereby actuate said inhibiting means to inhibit said second standby pacer until expiration of its pulse period, said received signals corresponding with either a natural heart stimulus or an artificial stimulus caused by said first pacer, and e. signal transmitting means associated with said second standby pacer for receiving signals from said second standby pacer when it is not inhibited and for transmitting corresponding control signals to said first implantable pacer so as to control its pacing pulse period in synchronism with the period of the second standby pacer.

Claim 7

A rate control for remote control of the pacing pulse rate of a first standby heart pacer that cooperates with the remote control, which pacer is characterized by having an intrinsic pulse period and by radiating a signal each time a natural heart stimulus occurs or an artificially stimulated heartbeat caused by it occurs and by having its pulse rate dominated to correspond with the rate at which control signals are radiated into it, said remote rate control comprising: a. a second standby pacer which is adapted to remotely control said first standby pacer which is implantable in the body, b. said second standby pacer having output terminals and a pulse generator for selectively supplying control pulses to the output terminals at a selected rate which is different than the intrinsic pulse rate of said first implantable standby pacer, said second pacer including timing means controlling its pulse generator to produce pulses at said selected rate and including means for inhibiting production of a pulse in response to occurrence of a signal across said output terminals corresponding with a signal from said first heart pacer, c. means connected with said output terminals of said second standby pacer for receiving pulse signals which correspond with signals that are transmitted through body tissue from said first implantable standby pacer and correspond with occurrence of a natural or stimulated heartbeat, d. means for delivering signals corresponding with said received signals to said second standby pacer output terminals to thereby actuate said inhibiting means to inhibit said second standby pacer until expiration of its pulse period, said received signals corresponding with either a natural heart stimulus or an artificial stimulus caused by said first pacer, and e. signal transmitting means associated with said second standby pacer for receiving signals from said second standby pacer when it is not inhibited and for transmitting corresponding control signals to said first implantable pacer so as to control its pacing pulse period in synchronism with the period of the second standby pacer.

Claim 8

The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. a resistor voltage divider means a part of which is connected across said second pacer output terminals, b. said signal receiving means includes a receiving coil, c. an amplifier having its input connected to the receiving coil and its output connected to another part of said resistor means which is connected to said first part to produce a voltage across said first part of said resistor means when there is a detected signal, said voltage inhibiting said second pacer, d. said signal transmitting means including a pulse amplifying means and a transmitting coil, e. said pulse amplifying means being connected to said terminals of said second pacer whereby to receive pulses from said second pacer when it is not inhibited and to drive said transmitting means for controlling said implantable pacer.

Claim 9

An implantable heart pacer that is adapted for having its intrinsic heart pacing pulse rate altered in response to receipt of signals at the selected pulse rate of a remotely situated control, said pacer comprising: a. a pacing pulse generator means that produces heart pacing pulses at an intrinsic rate and means for sensing a natural heart signal and means responsive to said sensing means for inhibiting said pacing pulse generator from producing a pacing pulse for a predetermined period upon occurrence of a natural heart signal, b. timing means controlling the pacing pulse generator period, c. means in said implantable pacer for receiving control signals radiated from a remote rate control means at a rate that is different than the intrinsic pacer pulse rate and for radiating signals to said remote control, said timing means inclUding means responding to said received signals by altering the period between intrinsic pace pulses and changing the rate of said pacing pulse generator to correspond with the pulse rate of said remote control, and d. means for producing a control signal in response to occurrence of either a natural heart signal or an artificial pacing signal and including means coupled thereto for radiating a remote control inhibiting signal outside of the implantable pacer in correspondence with said either signals.

Claim 10

An implantable heart pacer that is adapted for having its intrinsic heart pacing pulse rate altered in response to receipt of signals at the selected pulse rate of a remotely situated control, said pacer comprising: a. a pacing pulse generator means that produces heart pacing pulses at an intrinsic rate and means for sensing a natural heart signal and means responsive to said sensing means for inhibiting said pacing pulse generator from producing a pacing pulse for a predetermined period upon occurrence of a natural heart signal, b. timing means controlling the pacing pulse generator period, c. means in said implantable pacer for receiving control signals radiated from a remote rate control means at a rate that is different than the intrinsic pacer pulse rate and for radiating signals to said remote control, said timing means inclUding means responding to said received signals by altering the period between intrinsic pace pulses and changing the rate of said pacing pulse generator to correspond with the pulse rate of said remote control, and d. means for producing a control signal in response to occurrence of either a natural heart signal or an artificial pacing signal and including means coupled thereto for radiating a remote control inhibiting signal outside of the implantable pacer in correspondence with said either signals.

Claim 11

The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said timing means associated with the pacing pulse generator of the pacer includes timing resistor means and a timing capacitor connected serially to each other, said timing capacitor being connected to said pulse generator and the voltage on said timing capacitor determining the time when said pacing pulse generator will pulse, b. said electromagnetic means comprising a coil connected with said timing capacitor and across which is developed a voltage when a signal is received which voltage is additive to that on the timing capacitor, whereby said pacing pulse generator produces a pulse at a time before expiration of its intrinsic interpulse interval.

Claim 12

The invention set forth in claim 5 including: a. a pulse capacitor connected to said radiating means which is a coil means, and a charging circuit for said pulse capacitor, b. switching means having a control terminal and load terminals the latter of which are connected in series with said pulse capacitor and said coil means, c. the control terminal of said switching means being connected to receive last named control signals whereby to establish conduction across its load terminals so as to discharge said capacitor through said coil, whereupon said coil radiates a heart stimulus indicating signal to said remote rate control.

Claim 13

A remote rate control for controlling the artificial heart stimulus pulse rate of an implantable pacer which is characterized by having an intrinsic pulse rate and by it radiating a signal to the outside of the body upon occurrence of each natural heart stimulus and each artificial stimulus pulse that is produced by the pacer, said pacer being adapted to have its pulse rate controlled in relation to the rate at which control signals are radiated into it, said remote rate control comprising: a. pulse generating means, b. signal radiating means for radiating signals to said implantable pacer in correspondence with pulses from said pulse generating means, c. pulse timing means for controlling said pulse generating means to produce pulses with a certain interpulse period, d. detector means for detecting signals which are radiated from said implantable pacer in correspondence with occurrence of either a natural heart stimulus or an artificially generated stimulus of said pacer, and e. means responding to detection of either a natural heart stimulus or an artificial stimulus from said pacer by resetting said pulse timing means, f. said pulse timing means comprising a d-c source terminal and resistor means and capacitor means serially connected to each other and connected with said source terminal, a predetermined voltage on said capacitor resulting from charging it from said source terminal controlling said pulse generator to produce a pulse, and g. means connected with said capacitor means and responding to detection of either of said stimuli by reducing the voltage on said capacitor means to less than said predetermined voltage to thereby inhibit said remote pulse generator means for a second predetermined period.

Claim 14

A remote rate control for controlling the artificial heart stimulus pulse rate of an implantable pacer which is characterized by having an intrinsic pulse rate and by it radiating a signal to the outside of the body upon occurrence of each natural heart stimulus and each artificial stimulus pulse that is produced by the pacer, said pacer being adapted to have its pulse rate controlled in relation to the rate at which control signals are radiated into it, said remote rate control comprising: a. pulse generating means, b. signal radiating means for radiating signals to said implantable pacer in correspondence with pulses from said pulse generating means, c. pulse timing means for controlling said pulse generating means to produce pulses with a certain interpulse period, d. detector means for detecting signals which are radiated from said implantable pacer in correspondence with occurrence of either a natural heart stimulus or an artificially generated stimulus of said pacer, and e. means responding to detection of either a natural heart stimulus or an artificial stimulus from said pacer by resetting said pulse timing means, f. said pulse timing means comprising a d-c source terminal and resistor means and capacitor means serially connected to each other and connected with said source terminal, a predetermined voltage on said capacitor resulting from charging it from said source terminal controlling said pulse generator to produce a pulse, and g. means connected with said capacitor means and responding to detection of either of said stimuli by reducing the voltage on said capacitor means to less than said predetermined voltage to thereby inhibit said remote pulse generator means for a second predetermined period.